The Easiest Way to Clean Hardwood Floors
Few things add warmth and style to your home like a sparkling hardwood floor. Hardwood floors have been used for centuries, even before modern machinery was used to craft and shape wood on industrial scales. As resilient as hardwood floors are, it’s important to use the right products and methods to clean them without harming them. Below, you’ll find out how to clean hardwood floors effectively without breaking a sweat.
First, Remove Dust
Rather than go straight to mopping, you’re better off doing an initial pass with a vacuum, broom, or duster. That way, you’ll need less water when you start mopping. Areas of the house that see a lot of foot traffic should be swept or vacuumed daily. Mopping should be restricted to once or twice a week. Sweeping doesn’t need to be a huge production, simply aim to get rid of all visible dust and dirt.
Then, Make a Cleaning Solution
The best hardwood floor cleaner is the one that won’t harm your floors. If you’re concerned about whether a cleaning product is compatible with your hardwood floor, use only soap and water. Make a solution of about four cups of water and a few drops of dish soap. Stir it gently to prevent forming too many bubbles and use it to mop your floors. You’ll need to do a pass with plain water afterward as well to remove the soap. A professional hardwood floor cleaner is also an option. These often come in spray bottles and you can test them on a small area of your floor to make sure they’re compatible. Let the cleaner sit on the inconspicuous area for a while and then look for any discoloration or blemishes. Hardwood floors don’t love water, even when they’re sealed. So, when you’re mopping, try to wring out as much water as you can and work with just a damp mop. If there are low spots where puddles inevitably form, use a dry dry mop to soak them up after you’ve passed with the damp one.
Useful Tips
That covers the basic process but there are a lot of ways to make the experience a lot easier. One of those is to invest in a microfiber dust mop. These mops don’t just wipe away dust but attract it, so it makes dusting the floor a cinch. If your budget allows it, some robot vacuums are very effective at keeping highly-used areas of the floor cleaned. This is especially useful since little pebbles can easily scratch the floor if left unchecked. It goes without saying that abrasive cleaners are completely out of the question. Your goal should always be to preserve the finish of your floors as well as possible. If your hardwood floors are unsealed, it’s even more important to prevent soaking them. Use only a dust mop and vacuum and a damp cloth infrequently.
Keep it Simple
Cleaning your hardwood floors is not rocket science, it’s just a matter of keeping a few basic principles in mind. First and foremost, don’t soak your floors. Use only a damp mop and get rid of any puddles as they form. Other than that, just make sure you’re using a cleaner that is compatible with your floor or sticks with plain soap and water.
For Peace of Mind, Trust a Pro
To make sure your floors last as long as they possibly can, hire a professional service that uses only non-toxic cleaning products. At Alpine Maids, we make sure your floors are cleaned and protected with eco-friendly products that are 100% compatible with your floors. Book your cleaning online in 60 seconds and let our trusted team of professional cleaners in Denver take over.